"A Blessing" by James Wright

Welcome to the first entry of The Poet's Watch.

My name is Becca Downs and I am an English teacher in Indianapolis. This year I began teaching a Creative Writing, which has become my baby. (Actually I'd make a poor mother if that's the case--I'm drowning in grading still and flying by the seat of my pants most days. But I'm trying.)
Prior to this semester I had planned on utilizing a certain almanac as a poetry resource for my students, but that particular website is no longer in service. I'm sure I'm not the only teacher, writer, or human being who appreciated that daily muse, so this is my attempt at bandaging the wound.
I hope this blog is useful to those looking for daily inspiration for artistic, educational, or sanity purposes. I will do my best to showcase brilliant poetic pieces each day--whether from published poets or my own up-and-coming young scholars.

Below is "A Blessing" by James Wright--a request by an early believer in this blog.

A Blessing

BY JAMES WRIGHT

Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota, 

Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass. 

And the eyes of those two Indian ponies 

Darken with kindness. 

They have come gladly out of the willows 

To welcome my friend and me. 

We step over the barbed wire into the pasture 

Where they have been grazing all day, alone. 

They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness   

That we have come. 

They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other. 

There is no loneliness like theirs.   

At home once more, 

They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.   

I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms, 

For she has walked over to me   

And nuzzled my left hand.   

She is black and white, 

Her mane falls wild on her forehead, 

And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear 

That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist. 

Suddenly I realize 

That if I stepped out of my body I would break 

Into blossom.


James Wright, “A Blessing” from Above the River: The Complete Poems and Selected Prose.Copyright 1990 by James Wright.

Read, listen, share, create, and be on watch.